- August 28, 2025
- Credentialing
Hospice is designed to provide comfort, dignity, and quality end-of-life care, with research supporting that this type of care provides significant benefits for patients, families, and healthcare systems, including improvement in symptom management and reduced rates of hospital utilization.
Baby boomers are aging at an unprecedented rate, with 10,000 people turning 65 daily. Hospice demand is projected to grow significantly in the next decade. In fact, experts say a decline in utilization is unlikely in 2025 and beyond. To meet this growing demand, hospice organizations must be proactive — and one critical piece of that puzzle is credentialing.
Here is how organizations can stay ahead of the curve.
Make credentialing a priority, not an afterthought
In any healthcare organization, provider credentialing is one of the most important processes in place, and hospice is no exception. Having someone at your organization dedicated to managing the credentialing process is key versus relying on a nursing liaison or HR staffer juggling other responsibilities. This includes ensuring the credentialing manager is set up with a modern credentialing software solution and current regulatory requirements for hospice, which will ensure clinicians are onboarded quickly, avoiding delays in care. Having a modern credentialing process in place can also reduce compliance risk by proactively monitoring renewals and documentation.
“Credentialing may seem like background work, but in hospice, every delay has a ripple effect. A missing document or expired license can mean a provider isn’t at the bedside when families need them most.” – Amy Aymar, Credentialing Manager, CHG Healthcare
This level of guidance helps prevent bottlenecks that can stall operations — and ultimately, patient care.
Know your licensing and accreditation landscape
Most states require home health agencies to be licensed. This licensing process ensures that agencies meet minimum standards of care and safety for clients receiving services in their homes. Many states require or encourage accreditation from organizations such as the Joint Commission (JC), Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC), and Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP) as part of the licensing process. A few states, such as Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Ohio, have no licensing requirements, but those are rare. A knowledgeable credentialing professional can guide your agency through this process and maintain ongoing compliance as standards evolve.
Stay alert to fraud prevention and regulatory changes
From license flipping to enrolling ineligible patients or offering kickbacks, the hospice sector has seen its share of bad actors. Regulators are responding quickly.
CMS instituted a payment rule for 2024 requiring a 36-month ownership period before a hospice can sell. The rule forbids any change in majority ownership during the 36 months after initial Medicare certification, including acquisitions, stock transactions, or mergers. This mirrors current regulations for home health providers. Some states take those policies a bit further — in California, for example, five years of ownership is needed before a change of ownership can take place.
“The regulatory environment for hospice is shifting constantly. If you don’t have credentialing experts who are actively tracking those changes, your organization is vulnerable to fines, payment delays, and reputational harm.” – Rachel Woodhouse, Director, CVO
Keeping up with such changes protects organizations from compliance violations, payment disruptions, and reputational damage.
Hospice demand is rising fast, and the organizations that thrive will be those that treat credentialing and compliance as core business functions, not administrative chores. By investing in dedicated expertise, staying current on licensing and accreditation requirements, and tracking regulatory updates, hospice organizations can avoid costly setbacks and focus on delivering the compassionate, high-quality care patients deserve.
To learn more about how Modio can streamline your credentialing, schedule a demo today.